For the source text click/tap here: Bava Metzia 61
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Our new perek V discusses the laws of interest
The Mishna had stated: What is tarbis? One who increases his assets through produce.
The Gemora asks: Were all the cases stated previously not cases of ribbis?
Rabbi Avahu says: Until now we mentioned cases prohibited by Torah law. Now we are mentioning cases prohibited by Rabbinic law.
Rava asks why the Torah must give three specific prohibitions against stealing -- Ribis, Gezel, and Ona'ah, when one of them would suffice to teach the others. The Gemara concludes that in truth the prohibition of Gezel could have been derived from the prohibitions of Ribis and Ona'ah (through a Tzad ha'Shaveh).
The Gemara makes it clear that the prohibition of Ribis stems from the concept of Gezel. There are, however, other ways of understanding the nature of Ribis.
We begin an exploration of the halachot of Ribis.